A panel at EmTech@MIT will discuss future directions in augmented reality (AR). Over the past year, the technology has reached the mainstream, with applications released for cell phones equipped with sophisticated positioning sensors. So far, most are geared towards tourism and navigation.

Wikitude AR Travel Guide

Wikitude, one of the first AR cell phone applications, works on Google’s Android-Powered G1 phone. The software, released by Austrian-based company Mobilizy grabs information from Wikipedia and overlays it on real world locations.

Nearest Tube

Nearest Tube, developed by UK-based company acrossair, shows directions to London Underground stations on the iPhone’s screen.

Layar3D

Layer3D, developed by SPRXmobile in the Netherlands, also runs on Android devices. This application retrieves data from Twitter, Flickr and Wikipedia, and superimposes it on top of the real world.

ARider

Created by Tokyo-based firm Ubiquitous Entertainment, Arider uses an iPhone 3GS connected to a head-mounted display. A cyclist can use the system to see a map projected onto the road and to make hands-free calls.

Augmented Reality Marble Game

This AR game was developed by Steven Feiner and his colleagues at Columbia University. A player wearing goggles sees virtual objects superimposed on top of a flat board; the object of the game is to maneuver a virtual marble by tilting the board.